Camp cot canopy



May 16, 1950 H. H. HAM 2,508,254

CAMP COT CANOPY Filed March 17, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

H. H. HAM

CAMP COT CANOPY May 16, 1950 Filed March 1'7, 194'? 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 -INVENTOR.' Howard 1-1- Ham,

Patented May 16, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAMP COT CANOPY Howard H. Ham, Kingsville, Tex.

Application March 17, 1947, Serial No. 735,051

8 Claims. (Cl. 1355.1)

removable from a cot, which when applied and closed will give complete protection against the weather, and which embodies means to allow ventilation when desired while excluding insects and other pests.

' A further object of the invention is to provide a canopy which may be securely attached to the cot by means readily attachable to and detachable from the cot, and which canopy comprises a frame and a cover adapted when taken down or removed to be disposed in compact form for storage or transportation.

' A still further object of the invention is to provide a canopy having screened openings to allow entrance of air, and light, if desired, and flaps for closing the openings and serving in open position as awnings therefor, together with means for holding the flaps in open and closed positions.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a take-down canopy frame and cover of novel construction whereby the foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention may be carried into practical effect.

In the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the canopy applied to a cot and showing the adjacent side flap secured in open position to form an awning and to admit air or air and light through the associated screen.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the cot and the canopy frame applied thereto as it appears when the canopy cover is removed.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 2, looking toward the head of the cot.

Fig. 4. is an end view similar to Fig. 2 with the cover applied and showing the side flaps in open or elevated position and the head end flap partially opened.

Fig. 5 1s a detail section on the line '.i---5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional plan View showing the mode of connecting the lower end of the iongitudinal frame bow to the end rail at the lower end of the cot.

3'Fig. '7 is a detail vertical section on the line of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a detail section through the lower edge;-

2 the upper end of a holding rod with a, keeper strip therein.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of one of the keeper brackets showing the engagement of the lower end of a holding rod therewith.

Fig. 10 is a view of the canopy cover outspread.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of one of the brackets.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, i represents a camp cot frame of a wellknown folding type, to which the canopy structure is in the present instance shown applied, although it is to be understood that the canopy structure in the form disclosed or in slightly modified form may be adapted for use in connection with other types of cots or conventional bedsteads. This cot frame I comprises side rails 2 and 3, a head rail 4, and a foot rail 5, said head and foot rails being provided with end extensions t and 5', and head and foot and intermediate pairs of crossed legs 6, I and 8, the legs of each pair being pivoted to each other and the sets of legs being pivoted to the side rails, as shown at 6', I and 8, in a well known manner, for folding and unfolding actions. The cot frame supports the usual type of cot bottom 9. The cot frame may be made of wood or metal, or a combination of these materials.

In carrying my invention into practice I provide a canopy structure comprising a sectional demountable canopy supporting frame and a cover adapted to be supported thereby and secured to the cot frame.

The canopy supporting frame consists of a 1ongitudinally extending frame member or bow I0 and a pair of transversely extending substantially semi-circular 0r semi-elliptical frame men bers or bows H and [2. These bows are preferably formed of strips of more or less resilient sheet metal. The bows Ii and i2 are adapted to be disposed above and across the cot at the head and intermediate portions thereof and fitted at their ends in keeper members l3 secured to the side bars 2 and 3 and which may be formed independently of or as component parts of holding brackets I4, as hereinafter described. The ends of the bows I I and 12 may be slidably fitted down into these keepers in which they are held by the spring tension of the bows, and they may be withdrawn upwardly therefrom whenever it is desired to remove the bows. The how I i1 is adapted to be extended longitudinally of and above the cot in the longitudinal center line of the cot between its head and foot and to rest of a side closure flap showing the engagement of 6&- upon the bows H. and I2, to which and to the 3 foot end of the cot it is suitably secured. As shown in the present instance, the bow i is secured to the bow I2 by any suitable type of detachable fastener [5, such as a bolt and wing nut, and it may be secured at its head end to the bow i i by a similar type of fastener Hi. This end of the how it) may be hooked, as shown in Fig. 5, to

engage the bow i i and add to the security of the connection at this point, but the engaging hook may be omitted if desired. Atits lower or foot end the bow H3 is slidably fitted in a keeper t? secured to the foot rail 5 from which 'it may be readily withdrawn in removing the canopy frame from the cot. The keeper I"! may be similar .in form to the keepers l3 in the event that the latter are formed independent of the brackets "is,

and these keepers may be welded or otherwise secured to the cot frame. It will be observed that the bow I i is of greater length than -the bow l2 and extends on an arc of greater radius when appliedand hence is relatively higher than the bow l2, for a purpose more fully hereinafter described The bows of the canopy supporting frame constructed as described obviously maybe readily and conveniently applied to thecot frame for use and asreadily and conveniently removed therefrom. When removed the strips forming the bows may be nested together and coiled to formia compact bundle for storage or transportation.

.The holding brackets 14} are welded or otherwise secured .to the rails;.2 and 3.at the head end and intermediate portionof the cot frame. Each bracket comprisesa body plate is having outwardly projecting upper and lower holding lugs orears iii-and 20, the said ears having tapered openings I9.and .20', the,opening l9 beinglarger than the opening 29' and arranged put ofalinement thereof or farther outward relative to the body plate. A keeper l3 may be formed as an integral part of this bracket, or, as stated, the keepersmay beformed independent of the brackets. Each bracket, :withorwithouta keeper, may be made in the form of a casting or stamping, as found .mostexpedient .or .desirable for use.

The canopy cover .2! comprisesan elongated body of a suitable ,strong,.d,urable.and waterproof material and consisting-of. a.centr,aloblong rectangular body portion .22 and: side wing portions zsofa. length to extend fro the headbow H to the .end rail Sand .to rest .upon thebows and to depend at the-sidesthereof.andformanenclosure above the bottom 9. When this cover is applied the lower end ofuthe body portion 22 laps over the end rel-i115, while the upper end of the ypqrtionprojeets slightly'beyond the bow .11. At the lower ends of the wings holdingloopsfi l are provided for en agement with the rail extensi0ns.5 whereby the coveris securedat that end to the foot of the cot. If desired strings or other like fastening elements 25 may be provided at the upper or head end of the "body 22 to secure the cover at that end to the 'bow rail extensions 4'. Also if desired :suitable auxiliar fastening elements may be provided to secure the cover at proper points to'the'bows and to the rails 2 and 3 if found expedient or necessary. I have not shown such fastening elements, as they-may or may not in practice be-usedand as they arenot essential to a full disclosureof-the invention.

The lower or foot portions of the side wings, that is, those portions between the how 12 and rail 5 are 'imperforate and designed to remain in closed position when thecover-is' in use, but the upper or head portion of each wing is designed to-be opened-and closed-tororman inlet and exit- 4 opening and is in the form of a door structure comprising an inner flap 26 and an Outer flap 21. The inner flap is in the form of an open rectangular fabric frame secured at its upper edge only to the body 22 and closed by a screen body 28 of mesh wire or mesh plastic material which may be fixedly secured to the frame or removably secured thereto by a zipper type of fastening means. The outer flap 2'! is in the form of an imperforate body of fabric secured only at its upper edgetothe body Z-Z for upward and downward movement to open and closed positions.

Outward movement of the flaps 26 and 21 at .either-side of the cover will permit a person to enter or leave the enclosure or to otherwise have access ithereto. When both flaps are let down the opening willbe closed in a light-excluding and weatherproof manner. When the flap 26 is let dowmand the flap 2': opened up, the flap 26 will cover the opening to afford ventilation while excludingdnsectsand otherilests.

The .flap 2'! is provided at its lower edge with a hem 219 in which is fitteda removable strip 29 of metal or other material and which weights the flap to adapt it when closed to maintain its closed position against .wind or'other pressures. This fiap ,2! is-adapted to be held in asuitably raisedposition to serveas an awning to shade the doorway and to guard the screened opening from the entrance of light rainor snow in case it is desired to leave the doorwayppen for entrance of light or for ventilation purposes. To this end the hem 29 and strip 29' are formed with openings '30 for thepassage oi the upper ends of holding rods 3| having tapered lower ends to engage the openings i9" and 2.8 in the lugs or ears isand 26 of the'brackets l-Aonthe adjacent side rail of the not frame to support the fiapj'i' in awning formingposition, as shown in Fig 4. When the flap z'lisraised and extended outwardly to .a horizontal position the rods 31 which are engaged-at their upper endswith the openings -3il-will incline or lieat an inward and downwardangle so that-their. tapered lower ends may be engaged with :the openings in the lugs l9 and 20. ?In this operation the :tapered form and sizeof the :opening :19 adapts the rods to be fitted'down at an "angle'through the openings l9 and engagedwith the openings 20' and1to be held .in locked :position thereby against slipping downward, whileat-the-same. time :this arrangement of the 'lugsuand openings .adapts ithe rods to be readily removed when it is desired :to close-the flap. Tl'ieconstruction described provides a simple means 'for holding the flaps 21 in awning forming position whenever desired.

At its head end the cover :body 22 :is normally open and provided with-an inner cover flap :32 and an outer cover flap Bdwhich mayfbe generally similar in :construction tOJthe rflaps :26 and used in a similar manner and for similar purposes. The flap L33,'however, isadapted to :be fully thrown open over anduponthe-top-of the body 22 when it is'desiredto=leaveit open for any desired period of time. This flap 33 may also -be provided with side Wings '33 to-be'tucked in behind the flaps 26 to provide weather-proof joints at these points whenever required. :Other fastening means, .suchas snap lfa-steners may. also be usedto "secure the flaps in closed position to each other and to the rails of the oot frame. The flaps 3-2 and diialsoallowraccessztoand exit from the interior of the canopy cover and admission or. exclusion: .of .-light:and .air. .Ihegside and head :flaps may ;be lsepahately or conjointly opened or closed to suit weather conditions, as

will be readily understood. If desired, an eaves longitudinally from its head end to its foot endand also slopes transversely from its longitudinal center toward its side edges which are secured to the side rails of the cot frame. In other words, as the bows II and H are curved on arcs, the curvature of the bow I I being on an arc of greater radius than that of the bow I2, and as these bows are curved continuously from'their middle'portions secured to the bow l toward their ends engaging the keepers on the side rails of the cot frame, the covered top will slope longitudinally from its head end to its foot end and its sides will slope from the'longitudinal center of the cover toward the side rails of the cot frame. This sloping construction of the canopy cover not only gives a large amount of roomspace at the headpart'but greater strength to the set up cover and greater resistance to wind storms, rain storms, and snow or sleetstorms when the cot is used for sleeping in the open air, as the sloping surfaces will deflect wind forces and rapidly shed water or sleet and prevent the heavy deposit thereon of snow which cannot be readily brushed off, thus reducing or preventing entrance of wind or moisture or liability of damage tothe canopy even in the event of the occurrence of severe storms. The enclosure thus allows the occupant of the cot to secure full protection in inclement weather and ample light and ventilation when desired. The construction provided allows the cover to be turned up at either side to fully air the cot and to conveniently apply and remove bed clothing. As previously stated, the frame parts may be detached when the cover is removed and secured in rolled form for compact storage or transportation. The cover may also be folded or rolled up and packed with the holding rods so that the canopy as a whole may be compactly arranged for storage or transportation.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, the construction and mode of use of my improved cot canopy will be readily understood and its advantages appreciated by those versed in the art Without a further and extended description, and it will also be understood that, while the construction dis-- closed is preferred, changes in the form, proportion and arrangement of parts, falling within the scope of the appended claims, may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination of a cot frame having a keeper on its foot rail and keepers on its side rails located respectively adjacent its head rail and at a point in the region of the longitudinal center of said frame, a canopy frame comprising transverse unitary resilient frame bows having end portions slidably fitted in the keepers on the side rails and held therein by their spring tension and a central, unitary resilient longitudinal frame bow secured to the transverse frame bows respectively at one end and at a point between its ends and having its opposite end slidably fitted and held by spring tension of the bow in the keeper on the foot rail of the cot frame, and a cover disposed on said bows, said cover having side wings coextensive in length therewith and provided with means for securing them at suitable points to the cot frame, each wing being also provided with an opening between its transverse center and head end, an inner screen flap to cover said opening and an outer imperforate flap to cover the screen flap.

2. The combination with a cot frame, of a canopy cover supported on the cot frame having side rails and having an opening, a flap secured at its upper edge to the cover above the open-- ing and adapted to be moved down to cover the opening and upward to uncover the opening and form an awning-like projection, and rods de-- tachably engageable with the free lower edge of the flap and with the side rails of the frame for suporting the fiap in its upraised position from said side rails.

3. The combination with a cot frame having side rails, of a canopy cover supported on the cot frame and having an opening, a flap secured at its upper edge to the coverrabove the opening and adapted to be moved downward to cover the opening and upward to uncover the opening and form an awning-like projection, the lower end of the flap being provided with keeper openings therein, apertured brackets on the side rails of the frame, each having superposed lugs formed with non-alined openings, and rods engageable at their upper ends withthe openings in the flap and having tapered lower ends engageable with the apertured lugs of the brackets to hold the flap in raised position.

4. The combination with acot frame having side rails, of a canopy cover supported on the cot frame and having an opening, a flap secured at its upper edge to the cover above the opening and adapted to be moved down to cover the opening and upward to uncover the opening and form an awning-like projection, said flap having openings therein adjacent its lower edge, brackets on the side rails of the frame, and rods engaging the openings in the flap and apertures in the brackets and holding the flap in its upraised position.

5. The combination with a cot frame, of a canopy cover supported on the cot frame and having an opening, a flap secured at its upper edge to the cover above the opening and adapted to be moved downward to cover the opening and upward to uncover the opening and form an awning-lik projection, the lower end of the flap being provided with keeper openings therein, brackets on the frame each having a pair of superposed lugs provided with non-alined openings, and rods engageable with the openings in the flap and lugs of the brackets so as to be disposed in an upwardly and outwardly inclined position to hold the flap in raised position.

6. In a canopy construction for camp cots, a. canopy cover supporting frame comprising a pair of arched transverse frame bows adapted to be disposed respectively at the head end of a cot frame and at a central point in the length of said frame and to be secured at their ends to the side rails of the cot frame, each of said frame bows when disposed in supporting position extending on the arc of a circle and being continuously curved from the center of its top portion outwardly and downwardly to its ends, and the head end transverse frame bow being curved on an arc of greater radius than the central &(183254 transverse :framebow a -i xt ndineci-rom the-cot frame to :a l vel abo e the leve o said c a transve se :Iramei w, a longi u ina .zf ame w apted to bese ured at n iendztoth he d nd transverse frame how, at an: intermediate point in its length to the central transverse frame bowand atits opp ite endt th f o rail of th ot,

frame so as to extend at a sloping angledownwardly :b t n the head end transver frame bow and foot rail of vthe cot -frame, and means for detachably co ne t n said. b ws toeach-oth r and tothe cot frame'rails, each frame bQWIbeil'ig orm d of a unitary s ip of inher t y r sil ent metal, whereby-when said frame bows are detached :from the cot iramev they mayzbe coiled fors rae or sportat on in acompact n s ed form.

7. The combination :ofa cot frame havinga keeper on its foot rail and -,l eepe rs on-its side railsv located respectively adjacent head rail and at a point in the region of theatran rverse center of said frame, a canopy-fra comprising arched headend and central transverse frame bows each comprising a strip of inherently resilient metal fittedinrthekeepers on the side rails and a longitudinal frame bow secured to thetransvers-e frame hows respectively at one end and at a point-betweenits ends and havinggits opposite ndfified iii-the: keeper on;-thefoqt;rai1 of the cot frame, the endsof :theiframe bow rbeing held er prin t n ionof the bo s in' nga ement with the keepers, said transverse frame bows when disposed in. supporting position each 7 extendingpn; the arc of a circle and being continuously curvedifrom the center ofdtstop portion outwardly and downwardly to itsends thehead end'transverse bow being curved on an arc of greater radius than the central transverse frame bow and. extending from the. cot :frame to a level above the level-oflsaid central transverse -framehaving means foriattaching it at suitable points to ,one, of, s id fram ,8- la a. canopy lc ns vt o.nv for lcamp c t a canopycover supporting irame comprising a pair of arched vtransverse framebows adapted to be disposed respectively at the head end of a cot frame and at a central point inthe length of said frame, andv to beeecured atgtheir ends to, the .side rails ,QfzthGQOt frame, each of said frame bows when disposed in supporting position extending on-.,the arc of a circle and being continuously curved from the center of itstop portion outweirdly-and,downwardlyto its ends, and the head andtransverse, frame bow being curved on an. arcof greater radius than thecentral transverse framebow and ex end n -11mm t e c frame to a level above the level of said central transverse vcframe bow, a ulongitudinal frame bow adapted toxbeisecured at one end to the head end transverse frame .bow, ,l at an. intermediate point in its length tothecentraltransverse frame bow and atits opposite: end to the foot rail of the cot frame so as to, extend at a sloping angle downwardly between the head end transverse frame bow=and foot-rail of the cot frame, and means forconnecting said bows to eachother, each'frame bow being formed of a unitary strip of inherently resilient metal and adapted to be slidably engagedat itsends with keepers On the cotirameandto beheld under spring tension in engagement therewith.

HOWARD H. HAM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

NITE TATES, TE T Number Name Date 263,987 Steele Sept. 5, 1882 1,260,845 Winder --..Mar.,26, 1918 1,423,6512 La nbieet'ah Sept; 12, 1922 1,998,465 Marshall June 17, 1924 1,887,108 Steese Nov. 8, 1932 2,239,951 Bromsehwig Apr. 29, 1941 2,259,267 ,Rankin- -Oot. 14, 1941 

